Though I’ve moved around most of my life, my roots were first planted in the red dirt and bluebonnets of Texas. To say, “I was born in Texas” is also to say that I was born into a football family. I come from a long line of legendary (if only in their own minds) football players and fans. When I first began dating my now-husband Kevin, a guy from Chicago, the first thing my dad asked was whether he played football. He did; Dad approved and spread the word, “Y’all, he’s from above the Mason-Dixon Line, but he plays football. So, it’ll be okay.”
When we moved to Oklahoma just before I started middle school, my father, who once played football for Texas Tech, nearly dismantled the entire family system when he declared that from now on, we would be University of Oklahoma football fans. He bought plastic travel coffee mugs, T-shirts, and a front-door flag to prove it, Boomer Sooner. It was then that I learned that while blood may be thicker than water, that is decidedly untrue when said water is the Red River—the natural, territorial boundary line between Texas and Oklahoma. My father had placed a stake in the river, and we were officially the rivals of my Texas family members. A fun and beloved rivalry, to be sure, but a dividing line now existed, nonetheless. It was us versus them.
Being the individualist that I am, I once tried to convince my family to start a Sunday afternoon movie tradition rather than watching football. My mom simply said, “Aubrey, we can find any other time for a movie, but Sunday football is something we do together. This is community. This is a family thing.”
Often, the church, or a community of followers of Jesus, considers itself a family – with traditions, values, expectations, and family benefits.
If that’s true, what does it look like for us to be good family members to each other? To the world around us?
We get a clue from the apostles Peter and John in Acts chapter 3:
One day, Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now, a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said,
“'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God." Acts 3:1-8, emphasis added
This sick man experienced the holistic love of Jesus, as Peter and John together, in the midst of the onlooking community, fulfilled the cultural mandate, the great commission, and the great commandment—declaring and displaying a glad gospel hope that included:
Dignity. This was a man outside of the boundaries of his day, considered unclean and dishonored in Jewish culture. But the disciples looked and truly saw, as God saw Hagar. They dignified him like the image bearer he was.
Wholeness. The disciples healed this man physically, but they also lifted him up, and they saw his emotions explode with delight! This man also experienced spiritual healing, as he knew Jesus was the one who set him free from the chaos that had controlled his body for his entire life.
Restoration. This man was able to move toward community and worship with others. This was a new day for him, where he experienced belonging and family.
Refreshment. He was free from suffering, finally able to experience shalom and rest.
Repentance. After this healing, Peter proclaimed a message of repentance to the healed man and the shocked onlookers.
As members of Christian “families” - situated in our current time and place, we are offered the same in Christ. We are offered dignity, wholeness, restoration, refreshment, and forgiveness in repentance. And we are invited to offer that to others.
Remember, this is a community. This is a family thing.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Brooke Cagle
